Feeder for threshing-machines.



No. 764,680. PATENTBD JULY 12, 1904. J. M. SAILER.

FEEDER FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION rum) JULY 21, 1902. no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 764,680. PATENTED JULY 12, 1904,

J. M. SAILER. FEEDER FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLIQATION FILED JULY 21, 1902.

UNITED STATES Patented July 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. SAILER, OF JANESVILLE, USCONSIN.

FEEDER FOR THREsHme-MAo -udEs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,680, dated July 12,1904.

Application filed July 21, 1902.

1'0 (1M w/wm it puny concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. SAILER, residing at Janesville, in thecounty of Rock and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Feeders for Threshing-Machines, of which the following isa description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichare a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in feeders forthreshing-machines.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved form ofcarrier mechanism whereby the bundles of grain are carried inwardlythereby at a moderate force until they reach the end of their inwardtravel 'or until a point is reached in their travel where they are to beacted upon by the cutting mechanism and at which time the force at whichthey are carried along is greatly increased, so that the bundles arecarried to the cutting mechanism with such force as to insure theeffective operation of said cutting mechanism.

A further object resides in employing in conjunction with the specificmeansd. 0., the inner roll having the radiating blades for accomplishingthe above functiona means for preventing the grain from being twistedaround said inner roll, and thereby clogging up the machine.

A still further object resides in providing a most simple form ofconveying mechanism wherein the number of parts are reduced to theminimum and in connection therewith a simple means for preventing thecylinder from blowing the grain back beneath the endlessconvcyer carrierand in providing for the catching of any loose grain and the depositingof the same in the bottom of the concave for passage through openings insaid bottom of the concave to thereby add to the efficiency of theseparating process.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a plane to one side ofthe cutting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is adetail view of the mechanism for preventing the grain from being twistedaround the inner roller,

Serial No. 116,318[ (No model.)

I and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the conveyer mechl anism. I

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 6 indicates the main frameportion of my improved feeder, said frame portion adapted to be securedto and disconnected from any form of threshing machine, and in theordinary form of threshing-machine it is fitted and connected to theprojecting arms which usually form a part of the separator.

Mounted in suitable bearings is a main shaft 7, said shaft having on oneend a belt-pulley 8, around which is adapted to be passed a belt, (notshown,) which is extended to and passed around a pulley carried by theactuating mechanism of the threshing-machine. Mounted upon shaft? is apinion 9, which pinion meshes with a gear-Wheel 10, mounted on a shaft11, said gear-wheel in turn meshing with another gear-wheel 12 on anupper shaft 13.

The carrier mechanisms are adapted tofeed inwardly from opposite sidesof the machine, and each carrier mechanism is provided with end pieces14; 14c and the outer rolls 15 15 and the inner rolls 16 16, thejournals of said rolls having their bearings in the end pieces 14 14L ofthe carrier-frame. Endless chains 17 pass around the rolls, and saidchains are connected by means of longitudinal flat strips or bars 18,which serve when the chains are in motion to carry the grain inwardlytoward the cutting mechanism hereinafter referred to, the said grainlying on platforms 19, arranged below the upper portion of the chains,as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The endless chains 17 are preferablyin the form of sprocket-chains, and the inner rolls 16 have shown ascomposed of a series of short sections extending only a portion of thelength I do not, however, limit myself of the roll.

sprocket-teeth 2O projecting therefrom. which to this particulararrangement, as it is obvious that, if preferred, such blades couldextend longitudinally of the rolls or substantially the entire length ofsaid rolls without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,and the sprocket-teeth could be at opposite ends of the roll and beyondthe ends of the blades if continuous blades are used. Parallel with theend pieces 14 of the carrier mechanisms are rods 27 27. The oppositeends of each of these rods are held fast in projection 28 28, extendingfrom the main fixed portion of the framework. The end pieces 14 haveextending upwardly therefrom eyed projections 29 29, through which therods freely pass. The rods 27, as stated, are held fast, and they formrails upon which the end pieces 14 of the carrier mechanisms are adaptedto move. These end pieces 14 are made movable by providing the underedges thereof with rack-teeth 30 30, which teeth are engaged by pinions31 31, carried on the cx tremities of longitudinal shafts 32 32, theopposite ends of-said shafts having hand-wheels 33 33 thereon. Whenthese hand-wheels are turned, it is obvious that the pinions are made toengage the rack-teeth, and consequently the outer end pieces 14 aremoved either inwardly or outwardly, in accordancewith the direction ofturning. The object of this construction is to permit the carrier-framesto be adjusted at any time to suit the diflerent conditions of the grainand the amount to be fed to the cylinder. If the grain is dry and easilythreshed,a wide space can be provided between the earriers and thecutting mechanism, so as to allow a large quantity of grain to passthrough, whereas if the grain is wet and hard to thresh the space isnarrowed. When the carriers are moved inwardly toward each other, thebeveled pinions 21 and 22 are maintained in mesh, inasmuch as thebearings 34 34 of the shaft 13, on which the pinions 22 are splined,project outwardly from the end pieces 14 and are movable on the shaft13.

Cutting mechanism is provided for each carrier mechanism and may be ofany desired construction. In the drawings I show'each cutting mechanismas consisting of a stationary toothed or serrated blade 35 and a movabletoothed or serrated blade 36, the two blades together adapted to effecta shearing out. These blades are mounted between two stationarylongitudinal angle-beams 37 37 and a movable upper plate 38, the saidanglebeams 37 being secured to the rods 27 by means of clips 39. Thelower stationary blades 35 are secured to the angle-beams 37 and theupper blades 36 to the plate 38. A longitudinal re- 'ciproeatingmovement is imparted to the plate 38, and as the blades 36 are connectedto said plate a like movement of course is necessarily imparted to saidblades. This reciprocation of the plate is accomplished by means of apitman 40, having its upper end connected to the plate and its lower endconnected to a crank 41 formed on the shaft 13.

Below each carrier-frame and extending from across-bar 42 are a seriesof arms 43. To the inner ends of these arms is connected a plate 44,having its inner edge serrated. By the provision of this construction inthe operation of the machine if any of the grain is carried around bythe wings of the rollers 16 beyond the point where such grain should bedeposited onto the conveying mechanism the said grain so carried aroundwill come in contact with the serrated edges of the plates 14, and saidplates will thereby act to disengage such grain from the blades of therolls 16 and permit the grain to drop.

In the operation of the carrier mechanism the said mechanism is driventhrough the intermeshing gears 9, 10, and 12, the intermeshing beveledpinions 22 and 21, and the sprocket-chains 17. The tied bundles of grainare now placed lengthwise on the platforms 19 and being acted upon bythe flat strips or bars 18, which connect the endless chains 17, arecarried inwardly thereby until they reach the blades 26 of the innerrolls 16,which blades carry the grain to the cutting mechanism. Theknives of the cutting mechanism act upon the bands or cords of thebundles and sever the same. The loose grain as soon as'the cords are cutfalls onto the conveying mechanism below. It willbe seen that eachcarrier mechanism, of which the inner roll with the projecting wings 26forms a part, is in. the same or substantially the same plane with thecutting mechanism, and as the grain is carried over the inner roll bythe action of the wings 26 the said grain is thercbycarried into directcontact with the cutting mechanism:

In most forms of carrier mechanism the endless carriers thereof areprovided with projecting fingers which when the bundles are deposited onthe endless carriers act to carry said bundles along with too much forceduring the entire movement of the bundles, whereas considerable force isonly required at the inner end of the travel of the bundles or at thetime said bundles are forced against the cutting mechanism. By myimproved construction the flat strips or bars 18 carry the bundles alongat a moderate force, and then the moment said bundles have traveledinwardly far enough to permit them to be engaged by the blades of theinner rolls 16 said blades cause the bundles to complete their traveltoward and against the cutting mechanism with considerable force, andthus an augmented force is provided only at the point of the travel ofthe bundles where it is most necessary i. 0., where said bundles areforced against the cutting mechanism. The wings also serve to sep-varate the bundles and deliver them in a separated condition to theconveyer.

Referring to the conveyer mechanism, the numeral 46 indicates the bottomof the conveyer-frame, and 47 47 the side boards of said frame. Thebottom board is preferably made of two sections hinged together at thepoint 48, so as to provide for one of said sections being turned down onthe hinge. This section is normally held up by means of a transverse bar49, extending beneath the same from one side board of the conveyer tothe other. This transverse bar is held in place by means of alongitudinal locking-bar 50, having one end thereof extending beneaththe transverse bar and secured thereto by means of a nut 51, turnedthereagainst on a bolt 52. The opposite end of the locking-bar extendsthrough a sleeve 53, depending from the under side of the hinged portionof the bottom board and held therein by means of a hand-screw 54, turnedthereagainst. The free end of the hinged section of the bottom board issupported upon a straight extension from the concave 56. The outer endof the conveyerframe is supported or hung on coiled springs 57. \Vhen itis desired to obtain free access to the bottom board of theconveyer-frame for the purpose of cleaning or for any other reason, thenut 51 is removed and the outer end of the locking-bar disengaged fromthe bolt 52 and the opposite end of said bar then disengaged from thesleeve 53 by loosening the hand-screw 54. The conveyer-frame is nowforced forwardly against the action of the springs 57 until the innerfree end of the hinged section of the bottom piece of said frame isclear of the extension 55 of the concave. Thehinged section of thebottom board is now free to turn downwardly on its hinge, and readyaccess to the upper side of the bottom board is thereby obtainable.

The forward ends of the side boards 47 of the conveyer-frame areprovided with elongated slots 58, and through these slots passes theshaft 11, hereinbefore referred to, the ends of said shaft beingjournaled in fixed portions of the main framework of the machine. Onthis shaft are carried sprocket-wheels 59 59. A shaft 60 has its endsfixed in the side boards 4'7 of the conveyer-frame at the inner ends ofsaid side boards, and upon this shaft are idle sprocket-wheels 61 61.Around the sprocket wheels 59 and 61 pass sprocketchains 62 62, andthese chains are connected by means of transverse slats 63 to constitutea conveyer-belt. Below the upper portion of the endless conveyer thusformed is a platform 64, which is connected to the side boards of theconveyer frame and upon which the grain carried by the endless conveyerrests. Depending from the under side of this platform are lugs 65, andthrough these lugs adjusting-screws 66 pass, the outer ends of saidscrews engaging collars 67, fixed on the shaft 11. It is obvious thatwhen it is desired to tighten or slacken the endless conveyer all thatis necessary to be done is to turn the adjusting-screws 66 in the properdirection, and the entire conveyer-frame will be moved on the shaft 11by reason of the provision of the elongated slots 58. In the operationof this conveyer mechanism the grain after it is acted upon by thecutting mechanism falls onto the forward or outer end of the endlessconveyer and is carried thereby toward and to the cylinderor drum 68,said cylinder and the concave 56 being shownby dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Experience has demonstrated that the fanning action caused by therevolution of the cylinder is apt to blow back some of the grain intothe bottom of the frame of the conveyer mechanism and beneath theendless conveyer and in a short time clog up the space beneath saidendless conveyer. To provide against this, I employ at the inner end ofthe conveyer-frame and on a plane below said inner end a revolubleroller 69, having a series of inclined blades 70 extending therefrom.This roller may be rotated in any desirable manner; but I prefer torotate the same from the shaft 11 by mounting on said shaft anothersprocket-wheel 71 and passing a sprocketchain 7 2 therearound andextending said chain to and around a sprocket-wheel 73, mounted on theaxis of the roller 69. The slanting teeth of the roller 69 effectuallyprevent the grain from being blown back beneath the endless conveyer,and hence avoid the difficulty above pointed out of the clogging up ofthe parts. The inclined teeth furthermore act to catch any loose grainand in the revolution of the roller carry any such loose grain which maybe caught thereby to the concave, where it passes out through openingsin said concave, thereby adding to the efficiency of the separatingprocess.

It will be seen that in the construction of my conveyer mechanism anendless conveyer is employed in lieu of the complicated forcingmechanisms usually used and that also there is included in connectiontherewith a simple means for taking up slack in said endless conveyer.At the upper end of the conveyer is a curved guide-plate 75,approximately concentric with the shaft 11 in the position shown andabout the same distance from the path of the slats 63 when the conveyeris tightened as is the bottom board 46. By this means whatever graindoes pass roller 69 and is carried back to the conveyer will not pack atthe upper end of the frame, and so clog the conveyer, but will be heldby the curved plate 7 5 into active engagement with the slats 63 to beraised thereby onto the conveyer again with the other grain and carriedto the concave.

hat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a feeder for threshing-machines,the combination of side carrying mechanism consisting of an endlessconveyor adapted to carry the bundles of grain inwardly, cuttingmechanism arranged a distance from the inner edge of the carryingmechanism, and a rotatable roll around which the endless conveyerpasses, said roll provided with projections adapted to take the bundlesof grain from the carrying mechanism and carry said grain over the rolland to the cutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism and carryingmechanism being in the same, or substantially the same, horizontalplane.

2. In a feeder for tln'eshing-maehines, the combination of side carryingmechanism consisting of an endless conveyor adapted to carry the bundlesof grain inwardly, cutting mechanism arranged a distance from the inneredge of the carrying mechanism, and a rotatable roll around which theendless conveyer passes, said roll provided with projecting wingsadapted to take the bundles of grain from the carrying mechanism andcarry said grain over the roll and to the cutting mechanism, the outeredges of said wings being serrated, said cutting mechanism and carryingmechanism being on the same, or substantially the same, horizontalplane.

3. In a feeder for threshing-machines, the combination of side carryingmechanism consisting of an endless con veyer adapted to carry thebundles of grain inwardly, cutting mechanism arranged a distance fromthe inner edge of the carrying mechanism, and a rotatable roll aroundwhich the endless conveyor passes, said roll having a series of shortlongitudinally-projecting wings extending therefrom, the opposed ends ofsaid wings being out of contact, and wheels mounted on the roll in thespaces between the opposed ends of the wings, said wheels adapted forthe passage therearound of the belts of the endless convcyer.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. SAILER.

